Just like each and every year, we have a glimpse of at least 4 eclipses on Earth. Out of four, two of them will be solar eclipses and the other two will be lunar eclipses. In 2023, the first lunar eclipse of this year will occur on 05 May 2023. It will be a Penumbral Eclipse. The first lunar eclipse of 2023 will also be coinciding with the Flower Moon.
Just to mention, for the people living in the northern hemisphere, it will be a Flower Moon. Conversely, for the people living in the Earth’s southern areas, it will be known as the Beaver Moon. In this exclusive article, I am gonna walk you through each and every detail regarding this lunar eclipse of 5 May 2023.
But, before going ahead, let me give you a brief review of the definition of different types of lunar eclipses. I mean, I want you to know why this eclipse of the moon is a penumbral one, not a partial or total lunar eclipse. So without wasting any more time, let’s dive right in…!!!
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Types of Lunar Eclipse
There are generally three types of lunar eclipses. These are the penumbral lunar eclipse, total lunar eclipse, and partial lunar eclipse. (Refer to the above image for proper understanding).
- A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the earth’s penumbra.
- A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the moon partially passes through the earth’s umbra.
- Similarly, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon completely passes through the Earth’s umbra.
I hope now you know why this eclipse of the moon is a penumbral one. Because during the lunar eclipse of May 05, the moon will pass through the earth’s penumbra i.e the outer part of the earth’s shadow.
When and Where to See the Next Total Lunar Eclipse of 2023?
Just because of the fact that the earth is round, when half of the planet is living in the darkness, at the same time, the other half is enjoying the daylight. Therefore, as a result of the earth’s curvature, and, of course, the earth’s tilt, this eclipse of the moon will be visible only from some specific geographic locations.
Visibility Map of Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of May 5, 2023
The visibility map of this penumbral lunar eclipse will solely depend on the fact that where on the earth you reside. (Refer to the above image for proper understanding). As per available data, this penumbral eclipse of the moon will be completely visible over Asia and Australia. In fact, it will also be seen rising over Africa and much of Europe (basically in Eastern and Central Europe).
Timing of Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of May 5, 2023
According to timeanddate.com, on Friday, May 5, a penumbral lunar eclipse will begin at 15:14:11 UTC, followed by the maximum eclipse that will occur at sharp 17:22:59 UTC. At last, it will end at 19:31:45 UTC. In order to understand it more clearly, refer to the table given below.
Eclipse Timing of Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2023 May 05
| Eclipse Event | Time (UTC) | |
| 1. | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse begins | 05 May, 15:14:11 |
| 2. | Maximum Eclipse at | 05 May, 17:22:59 |
| 3. | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse ends | 05 May, 19:31:45 |
Some Exclusive Facts About the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of May 05, 2023
Here are some of the most important and exclusive characteristics and facts about this upcoming lunar eclipse.
- The eclipse magnitude (Umbral) is -0.04378
- Penumbral Magnitude is 0.96551
- This eclipse of the moon belongs to Saros 141 Table and is number 24 of 72 eclipses in the series.
- On this day, the Moon is in the constellation Libra.
- Gamma has a value of -1.03495.
- The overall duration of the eclipse is 04 hours 18 Minutes & 15.6 seconds.
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Safety Issue
Is it safe to look at the lunar eclipse without special glasses? Well, in my view, absolutely yes. It is perfectly safe to look directly at the lunar eclipse of 2023. I mean, there is no need for any protective eyewear or special eye covers to protect your eyes. Because the intensity of light during any type of lunar eclipse is very much less compared to the light emitted during a solar eclipse.
However, if you want to enhance the beauty of your majestic view, you can definitely use binoculars. At last, I wish you good luck with this epic moon gazing. And, do let me know about your astonishing experience in the comment section.
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